Description
How to make creamy one pot garlic parmesan chicken pasta with tender chicken and rich cheese sauce that’s ready in just 30 minutes for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Base
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter
Aromatics & Seasonings
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Liquid & Dairy
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Brown Chicken: Add chicken to pot and cook 5-6 minutes until golden brown on all sides. Don’t overcrowd – work in batches if needed. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add butter to the same pot. Sauté onion for 3 minutes until softened, then add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Liquids: Stir in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Add pasta, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil.
- Cook Pasta: Reduce heat to medium and simmer 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in cream and cooked chicken. Remove from heat, then gradually add parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and creamy.
- Serve Hot: Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately while the sauce is at its creamiest consistency.
Notes
- Don’t add cheese while the pot is still on heat or it will curdle and become grainy.
- Freshly grated parmesan melts much better than pre-shredded cheese from a bag.
- Stir frequently while pasta cooks to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Reserve some pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick during cooking.
- Let the dish rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.
Allergy Information: Dairy, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 520 calories
- Fat: 24g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Protein: 32g